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Unraveling the Hidden Meaning Behind The White Lotus Snake Subplot

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In the third episode of The White Lotus‘s Thailand-based third season on Sunday, the troubled Ratliff family from North Carolina, led by matriarch Victoria (Parker Posey), are discussing Victoria’s ominous dream of being swallowed by a tsunami. According to Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), their earnest, spiritual daughter, “Every symbol in dreams has significance; it’s a shared subconscious.” However, Piper’s older brother, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who seems like an American Psycho, is not convinced. “It’s nothing profound,” he says. “We all have nightmares about fire and snakes because we are all afraid of them.

In this discussion, we establish the mood for the episode titled “The Interpretation of Dreams.” Throughout the series, recurring themes such as fires, tsunamis, and the mysteries of the subconscious mind are prevalent. However, this week’s most significant and heavily symbolic element is the frequent appearance of snakes. The residents of White Lotus Ko Samui seem unusually preoccupied with these creatures, and one couple even has a close encounter that adds an unsettling layer to this already tense show. Additionally, another major theme of the episode, the black-and-white contrast of good versus evil, complements well with the season’s broader exploration of Western characters immersed in Eastern spirituality.

Snake attack

Three episodes into the unexpectedly action-filled season of “The White Lotus,” we’ve already witnessed an armed robbery and a chilling preview of a potential mass shooting. However, in my opinion, the most unsettling scene so far has been the snake encounter on Sunday – a truly nerve-wracking moment.

In a state of questionable drug influence, I find myself, much like Walton Goggins’ character Rick, drawn into a rundown tourist trap teeming with snakes confined in cramped, dirty tanks. My devoted companion, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), decides to tag along. “It’s inhumane they’re trapped within these cages,” I remark, to which she replies as if I’ve lost my mind: “They’re venomous snakes.” However, I persist, “But they deserve the freedom to live unrestricted.” Chelsea retorts, “Not when they’re endangering people by biting them.” This dialogue encapsulates a profound philosophical divide—a dispute that mirrors some of the most contentious debates in American politics. The question at hand: is it more essential to safeguard the snake’s (or gun owner’s) right to carry a lethal tool in public, or everyone else’s right to be protected from being bitten (or shot)?

The discord between them foreshadows future events. In an almost frenzied state at the reptile exhibit, where a disheveled presenter barely managed to mumble introductions as his partner prodded snakes, much to the casual amusement of snack-munching tourists, Rick made his way back to the tanks and, with a heavy sigh, let the snakes loose. By the time Chelsea arrived searching for him, they had spread across the floor. Predictably, one of the snakes bit her leg. The reptile handlers swiftly took her to the hospital, ensuring she was fine by the evening when she and Rick dined with Greg (also known as Gary) and Chloe.

In simpler terms, Chelsea is adamant about the snake issue because of the potential danger they pose, as she nearly got bitten. During their conversation after dinner, she confronts Rick about his decision to keep the snakes. He defends this action by stating that he felt sorry for them. It’s evident that Rick empathizes with these creatures, which are often feared. Chelsea takes the argument a step further, labeling snakes as evil, referring to biblical teachings. While it’s possible to challenge this viewpoint, especially from a non-religious perspective, Rick doesn’t dispute it. Instead, he argues that treating evil things poorly only makes them more wicked. This conversation can be seen as a parallel between the snakes in cages and prisoners in the justice system. It also reflects Rick’s emotional vulnerability, hinting at his potential for causing harm despite his lonely and miserable state.

Snakes on a spiritual plane

When Chelsea uses the Bible to argue that snakes symbolize evil, she’s likely referring to the serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to our permanent exile from this ancient paradise. This fruit was itself a product of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, a theme that permeates Judeo-Christian beliefs, which often revolve around good-evil dualities like God versus Satan, heaven versus hell, and righteousness versus blasphemy. These concepts are deeply ingrained in Western perspectives on human nature, suggesting that our world is a battlefield between good and evil. As a result, each person is believed to be influenced by either goodness or evil, making them inherently good or completely bad.

In a somewhat related note, evil isn’t always portrayed as the snarling, raging, mustache-twirling villain in cartoons. A significant depiction of the Fall outside the Bible can be found in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, where Satan, disguised as a serpent, is depicted as an eloquent and charming persuader who gently leads Eve into committing the original sin, forever tainting humanity. I’m not entirely convinced that Rick is the villain he appears to be in his session with meditation teacher Amrita, portrayed by Shalini Peiris. However, there was a moment when, for reasons we haven’t yet discovered, Rick put on a friendly facade to meet resort co-owner Sritala, played by Lek Patravadi, and compliment her performance from the previous night, that reminded me of Milton’s portrayal of Satan.

The concept of ‘good versus evil’ is deeply rooted in Western thought, but it’s not the only way to interpret the universe. Mike White, the creator of ‘White Lotus’, frequently discusses the impact Eastern spirituality, particularly Buddhism from Thailand, has had on this season. In the episode “The Meaning of Dreams”, Michelle Monaghan’s character Jaclyn expresses doubts about Judeo-Christian morality during dinner with her friends Laurie (Carrie Coon) and Kate (Leslie Bibb). She finds it limiting, stating, “It’s all just so male… the epic battle for good and evil.” This theme doesn’t resonate with her. Although Jaclyn is not well-versed in the resort’s ‘witchy’ alternative spiritual and wellness practices, she prefers them to the chauvinistic atmosphere of a Christian church that appears central to Kate’s social life in Texas. The shocked responses of Jaclyn and Laurie when Kate labels its right-wing congregants as good people and implies she voted for Trump, too, complicate the moral undertones of their conversation. If goodness truly exists, are these individuals truly its embodiments?

It’s interesting to note that snakes carry various symbolic meanings across multiple Eastern religions. The term ‘naga’, originating from Sanskrit and signifying snake or serpent, is a sort of demigod figure found in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. While I may not be a theology expert like Jaclyn, certain aspects of nagas caught my attention that seem pertinent here. For instance, they are often depicted as half-human, half-serpent creatures or a mermaid-like fusion, and typically possess hoods, much like the snake that bit Chelsea. Given Rick’s apparent affection for captive snakes, which seems to surpass his feelings for his girlfriend or himself, it could be metaphorically suggested that he embodies the human form of the naga.

In essence, Nagas are not naturally good or evil. They are often depicted as fearsome beings engaged in an endless conflict with Garuda, a giant bird symbolizing conversion of outsiders in Buddhism. The pair are associated with various pairs of contrasting concepts such as light and dark, sun and moon, upper and lower, air and water, and Buddhism and other religions. Nagas are also commonly found guarding temples, reflecting the legend of the multi-headed naga that protected Buddha during his long meditation sessions. In Thailand, Nagas have such significance in culture that they were chosen as the national symbol in 2022.

Beyond good and evil

It’s intriguing to ponder about categorizing the characters from this season’s series, “White Lotus,” as good or evil. Chelsea and Rick might represent the dichotomy of virtue and vice, although they could also symbolize the more enigmatic duality of light and darkness, akin to mythical creatures. Saxon appears to be deeply corrupt, while his siblings seem blamelessly innocent. Characters like Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) and Mook (Lisa) are portrayed as the epitome of kindness and purity, whereas the bodyguards who seem intimidated by Gaitok’s heroism are depicted negatively. The girlfriend trio, Victoria, her husband Timothy (Jason Isaacs), and others are complex characters that are harder to classify. It seems intentional that these challenging figures are among the show’s most captivating personalities.

The statement doesn’t imply that the good versus evil dynamic in “The White Lotus” is a dead end. On the contrary, it seems that the tension between Greg and Belinda, who had a confrontation at dinner this week, could be developing further. So far, the series has presented no more compassionate characters than Belinda, who earns a living helping people heal emotionally, often being overlooked herself. And it has introduced no more detestable villains than Greg, who seemingly arranged for his heiress wife’s (Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya) murder to claim her fortune. Unlike Jake Lacy’s character in Season 1, who didn’t intend to kill Murray Bartlett’s Armond, it appears that Greg might be responsible for some serious wrongdoings. Despite his calm demeanor during their initial encounter, denying any connection with Tanya McQuoid or knowing Belinda, the way she continues to gaze at him after leaving his table suggests this plotline may continue unfolding.

In The White Lotus, one ongoing theme across all three seasons is a struggle between good and evil that the creator, White, appears to be both setting up and challenging. This tension could very well become a major storyline this season, but I suspect it won’t stick strictly to typical archetypes – it might end up being twisted or subverted in some way.

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2025-03-03 06:06

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